still depends on the dealer, i would suggest you ask someone who goes to the same dealer as you. and when the engine goes, it's all up to SOA who will blame it on your mods.

 

Yep. Some dealers are more mod friendly. For small repairs it's up to them to them to determine coverage. For larger repairs, such as engines, it's completely out of their hands and up to a Subaru of America service rep.

 

Well lets hope the engine doesnt go... if the engine goes I would suspect that it would have to be something a hell of a lot more wrong with it than a SS and SF.

 

I think the big thing that a dealer or SOA will look at is not particularly how many mods you have, but rather, the second you hook up a Cobb AP and flash the ECU (even for just an intake), you're changing the entire factory programming of the car. While most people on here would agree that the Subaru factory ECU programming sucks and the Cobb maps (or even a pro-tune map) make the car run much better, smoother and more effeciently, SOA probably won't see it that way.

If I'm not mistaken, the dealer/SOA would have to prove that a modification was the cause of a malfunction. While in and of itself an intake doesn't affect much, flashing the ECU changes everything and is probably enough for SOA to be able to deny warranty coverage if they wanted to. That being said, I've read quite a few threads of people with tons of mods blowing an engine while under warranty, and SOA giving them a one time replacement as a "good grace" kinda thing. In the end it's probably up to the dealer and what kind of info they provide to SOA. I'm sure you'll here both good and bad stories when it comes to this.

Personally, I'm still under warranty and even have an extended warranty on my car. That didn't stop me from some mods. Mainly suspension stuff but I did put on an AEM cold air intake and have the car flashed to Stage 1 + AEM (93 Oct). So far, so good...

 

Perfect, this is what I was kind of thinking. It makes sense. I am wanting to do the same thing to mine (but with the Cobb SF) simply because I think it can and will make the car perform better and more efficiently as well as make the car funner to drive. I do not want to go too heavy into mods until well after the car is out of warranty but these minor things are simple to install and the benefit they give vs cost is well worth it.

 

It's very simple, if you go in for a major repair and the modification you have in anyway has anything to do with what is broken expect a denial by subaru. if you loose a ringland bet your ass a SoA rep will come out to check the car out.

Keep in mind, they don't need to prove anything to YOU. Their only legal obligation to you is to provide a denial in writing if you so request. They would need to prove it in a court of law, so unless you are going to sue them all that is nonsense.

 

100% exactly correct. If you plan to mod plan on having the money saved up if your engine goes.

Since you upped the power Subaru is no longer liable to fix it since it was operating outside of its designed limits. Even if had nothing to due with it they will blame it on it, then it would be up to you to successfully sue a billion dollar company.

 

What about removing the mods before taking the car in for diagnosis/repair?

For instance, uninstall the Cobb Map and return to stock, remove the Cobb cold air intake and replace stock? These are two relatively minor mods.

 

:tdown:
Not all techs are idiots.

Also, that's attempted fraud.

 

I just plan on discussing with the service guys at the dealership where I order my car from. They must realize that these cars people want to add things and these particular mods are quite common. I figure I will be honest with them. I dont plan on adding anything for a few thousand miles but then after that I will want to make these minor upgrades. No point in trying to hide it but I just think they have to realize that people are going to want to do these things especially since for instance the stock map is so inefficient.

 

I know my dealer is mod friendly. But up to a point. I had a Cobb SF ram intake and they never mention anything about it with my car was consuming oil. They went straight the point after saying my turbo is on the way out.

But then again. My dealer always carries aftermarket parts such Cobb, kartboy, etc.

 

Just remember, the dealer and SOA can say anything they want. They can deny any warranty claim or make any outlandish assertation that has no basis in reality [e.g. your CAI is why we will not warranty your wheel bearing]. They know that you only have one real recourse; file a law suit against them. The number of people who they piss-off is minimal compared to the customer base and they are more concerned that they do not set a precidence of fixing modified cars for free.

If you are not willing to incur the expense, time, hassel, etc. of a law suit, (and most people are not willing to go that route) then whatever the dealer/SOA says will be what happens.

 

They can deny any warranty claim or make any outlandish assertation that has no basis in reality [e.g. your CAI is why we will not warranty your wheel bearing].

Um, no they can't.

 

btw don't forget even they decide to rebuild the motor you will be paying the tax which will end up costing enough to build yourself a motor.

 

How would you owe tax for a free service?

 

No you don't pay shit if its covered under warranty.

 

Wow some of the garbage aka inaccurate information posted in here just astonishes me.

 

OP, long story short, start with the shifter. Then, when you don't care about the warranty as much as being quicker, get the AP. Otherwise, stick to non-driveline/engine mods.

 

Remember, you better hope that you catch the ring land "on the way out" because if you flash your ecu back to the stock map you still need to drive your car for a little bit to establish parameters on the computer for how you drive. If the tech goes in there and there are no parameters, they will know that you reflashed it. At least this is what I think.

 

my friend just recently blew up his fully covered stage 2 evo x... before he had the dealer come get it he removed all the parts with the stock parts EXACTLY how it came from the show room... all was fine they checked it over... and he has a new evo...

pretty much as long as you take pictures of everything have have this forum as a reference to go back on when you are taking things apart and putting them back together you should be fine... I am going to stage 1 this weekend on my 2013 Sti so Im in the same boat.

Just Becareful with everything.

 

This is 100% wrong. Cars that are returned to stock frequently have obvious signs that this was done.

 

Try putting the bottom half of the turbo heat shield back on, that shit is impossible lol.

 

Fraud is fraud. Warranty coverage more important than integrity? Karma will find you. It always does.

 

This x 11finity

 

your lose ur powertrain warranty once you tune your car thats what my dealership said

 

Not really true. You lose warranty coverage on your engine, sure. Possibly your tranny if they can prove it, unlikely.

What they are getting at, is if you have no spine and slightly resemble a jelly fish you can return your car to stock and try to lie and get warrant coverage.

 

it honestly depends on the dealer, service manager, and your relationship with them...

 

It does up until the point your motor blows, then that goes straight to SoA and your dealer does whatever they tell them too. No way in hell your dealer is going to pay out of pocket for it.

 

dealer has a say to whats been done. it can over look cold shoulder it or if you have parts return it to stock etc. ive had many friends do it PERFECTLY to the point where it came off as it never happened. never an issue with SOA/Warranty

 

Not always true. If there are mods or any indication there were mods/vehicle returned to stock form, they contact SOA. Could they overlook things? Sure. If they continue to overlook things and turn the blind eye, their warranty per vehicle serviced costs will skyrocket which will result in an audit from SOA which normally results in a mass exodus of certain department personnel(service advisors, service managers, etc). As for engine repairs, if they exceed a certain dollar amount, then they MUST get authorization from SOA. If they do not, then the repair is charged back to the dealer and that will not go over well.

Yeah the customer may not have an issue but over time they will when different faces are there or the same faces start cracking down on things.

 

might be shit luck but still